"Do you know the way?" Robin challenged when Patrick snatched the car keys from her.
"I can read a map, Robin." Patrick muttered as the three of them climbed into the car. It had just been a quick stop by the loft to pick up Morgan's overnight bag and then they were off.
"I have no doubt, but the route is a little tricky." Robin informed him, retreating a bit. The last thing she wanted to do was to bruise his ego. She had learned to pick her battles and she didn't want to participate in one in front of Morgan.
"Then you can give me a heads-up." Patrick answered, flipping on the radio to put a halt to the conversation. "Don't worry so much."
"How do you know Michael misses me?" Morgan asked from the backseat.
"I get an email a day from A.J. about how much your brother misses you." Robin assured him with a tiny nod. "I didn't want to say anything in front of Cameron, but he told me that they got in a new horse and Michael won't let anyone ride it. He said it was yours."
"We used to have horses at my old house." Morgan recalled sadly, folding his hands in his lap.
"I didn't know that! How many did you have?" Robin wondered, turning completely around in her seat.
"We had six. There were four big horses and two miniature ones. Mommy and Daddy always rode the big ones and they even let Michael when he got old enough, but not me. I still had to ride the little one."
"They were just trying to keep you safe I'm sure." Robin replied soothingly.
"What if Michael's been having so much fun with his new daddy that he doesn't have time to play with me?"
Patrick flipped off the radio and stopped for a light. "Then you call us and we'll turn around." He answered without a moment's hesitation.
"That's right." Robin smiled warmly. "If you feel uncomfortable or you just want to come back home, we'll pick you up. Here," She handed him her cell phone. "Keep this in your pocket--you know, just in case you're away from the house when you want to call. Both the loft and Patrick's cell are programmed in. One and two. I'll always pick up."
The rest of the trip was done in silence. Morgan pulled out his Game Boy from his bag; Robin made a few notes on the map before flipping open a book she had started at the beginning of the summer; and Patrick chose a quiet oldies station to jam to without disturbing either of them. Robin had been right about the trip: there were necessary twists and turns that weren't located on the map, some which had to be made immediately, almost landing them in a ditch more than once. Robin would never comment, but it was clear she was having a hard time keeping her giggling at bay. Morgan remained unmoved and unimpressed as they left the smooth concrete and hit miles of gravel. If he didn't know better, he would have sworn that they had left not only Port Charles but civilization altogether. Though she didn't express her anxiety, Robin had a tendency to check the locks more than once until they finally reached the front gate of A.J.'s plantation.
There was no reason to check the name on the sign because only A.J. would have such a house, one in which he planned to show off as often as possible. He might be the black sheep in his family, but he wasn't going to let that stop him from spending a ton on a house that looked fit for a king. He had sold his ELQ shares to acquire the location and have his house built, eager to have it all done by the time his son arrived. Though Robin knew, from the pictures he had sent, that the house was supposed to be white, the twilight made it appear almost indigo. The lawn was fairytale green, trimmed and perfect, and the pathway was made of rare stones he had collected from all over the world in the last ten years. She hadn't seen a house like this since her summers in Italy with her mother and even those seemed to dull in comparison.
"It looks like a hotel." Morgan remarked, his eyes the size of marbles as he took in his surroundings. Robin supposed he was more than a little intimidated at its size and overall presence.
"We better go in before they turn the sprinklers on us." Patrick suggested, attempting to snap the two of them out of their trance. "Or send out the guard dogs." He added for extra incentive.
"There are no guard dogs." Robin told Morgan when she noticed him stare uncertainly at the house. "Come on. Let's not keep them waiting."
Greeted by an elderly man by the name of Winthrop, they were led to the living room to wait for their host and young apprentice to appear. Morgan shuffled uncomfortably in his shoes making his way through the house in the same manner he would a museum. His footsteps were soft and almost indecipherable as he treaded from one corner to the other.
"This is incredible." Robin breathed, worrying that, due to the monumental setting, her brain wouldn't be able to take everything in and store it away in her memory.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Patrick couldn't shake this awful feeling. He had had it since they left the theatre and headed in this direction. "We can still make a run for it."
"Patrick, relax. You're going to scare Morgan." Robin reprimanded him, placing her hand on his left arm. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
"Nothing good." He answered honestly, brushing past her to inspect the grandfather clock located at the Far East corner of the living room.
"You made it!" A.J. entered the room with grace, his arms outstretched as if he meant to hug them but wouldn't push the issue if they were uncomfortable with the idea. "No trouble finding the place?"
"We literally ran out of road." Robin explained with a smile. "You've done very well for yourself."
"Thank you. I hear you bakery is the number one hotspot in Port Charles."
"I don't know about that." Robin replied, catching Morgan's gaze and motioning him to come stand where she was. "How have you been?" It was the polite thing to ask. She hadn't seen or talked to this man since they had each taken custody of each little boy, only communicated through email until now. Just from the hard time she had had with Morgan--as came with any transition--she was thankful that she hadn't been responsible for both he and Michael. This was where the boy belonged, with his father, his flesh and blood. Robin had never though it right the way Carly gained sole custody of her oldest child when she had been a less than suitable parent. Understanding A.J.'s need for his son, as well as a suggestion from Courtney, the decision had been simple.
"Michael's up in his room playing Wii." A.J. informed Morgan as the little boy stood behind Robin.
"Not anymore. Hey Morgan!" Michael leapt down the stairs, rolling part of the way, and ran to his baby brother, picking him up and spinning him around. "Did you miss me?" Patrick watched the scene in half curiosity as well as a little apprehension.
"Yeah, but I can't breathe." Morgan stated matter-of-factly causing all three adults to laugh. "Put me down caveman breath." The smile on his face was all the proof Robin needed to know that she was making the right decision in letting him spend the night.
"I got the coolest game system you've even seen. I think my dad might have bought out the entire store." Michael announced, glancing over at A.J. with a proud smirk.
"As long as you're not spoiling him then." Robin teased A.J. and the adults shared another laugh, each of them focused on the two brothers hurrying up the stairs to what Michael called Media Room Number Two. Apparently, the first Media Room was devoted only to movies and music.
"I wouldn't dream of it. Would you two like something to drink?" A.J. offered. "I don't have any liquor in the house--"
"That's alright. Do you have any iced tea? Or bottled water?" Robin inquired, easily cutting him off. At least A.J. wasn't following his father's footsteps. He had been vigilant in getting sober and staying that way. After Jason was sent to prison, Alan Quartermaine Sr. had followed in Noah Drake's footsteps and Robin had heard he often got lost on his way home from the bar.
"I'm gonna go check out the game system." Patrick excused himself and headed up the stairs, his eyes never leaving Robin's as he did so.
"What do you think I did to spook him off?" A.J. asked seriously.
"You didn't do anything. Patrick's just a little strange sometimes." Robin explained.
"I have to say, I'm a little surprised to see the two of you getting along. Last time I saw you, you were happily divorcing his baby brother." A.J. pointed out.
"Has it really been that long? My goodness. No, Patrick and I found a way around our differences and it was for the better." Robin clarified.
"Sounds serious." A.J. surmised as he disappeared into the kitchen to retrieve a pair of water bottles for them.
"Don't tell me you're still single." Robin took a long sip of her water while she waited for his response.
"I devote most of my days to Michael." A.J. told her.
"And when he's away at boarding school?" Robin wondered.
"I am dating someone. She's quite a girl." A.J. declared smugly.
"Have I met her?"
"She's originally from Port Charles."
"Don't go cryptic on me. I've got to know."
"Sorry. I haven't even told Michael yet." A.J. shook his head.
"It's really good to see you." Robin said.
"YOU!" Patrick's voice tore through their conversation as the photographer stood on the last step of the stairs, his finger pointed at something neither of them could see.
"Would you lower your voice." Courtney rolled her eyes, flipping her hair out of her face.
"Courtney, what are you doing here?" Robin asked, turning around the corner to find her roommate with a tube of lip gloss in her hand.
"I came to see Michael. He gets lonely without his little brother." Courtney explained vaguely, snapping the lid on the gloss and dropping it into her purse. "Thanks again A.J."
"I'll walk you out." A.J. offered, leading her toward the foyer.
"Are you going to make a scene everywhere we go?" Robin asked, her anger evident.
"I can't help it. She brings it out of me." Patrick defended.
"Whatever. I'm going to go say bye to Morgan. Can I trust you to not strangle Courtney while I'm gone?" Robin patronized.
"Yeah alright." Patrick gave in, his eyes darting toward the door.